The Effect of Slang on the Students Writing Abilities - Essay Example

The habit is transferred to classrooms in the writing of assignments and essays. This has lowered the quality of written work teenagers produce. The problem is getting more severe by the day such that college admission officers are getting concerned that the habit is getting out of hand. They are reporting increased cases of below-par admission essays. (Eble 65) notes that slang is ever-changing, and the speakers seek to establish a form of social identity within the group.

The other reported problem has been the use of slang words. Words are gradually being replaced by simpler, shorter versions. While this problem is common among teenagers and the younger generation, the habit is catching up with adults. It is now a common occurrence to hear people say ‘yeah' in place of ‘yes.' People have a hard time differentiating between casual and official language. The effects of this communication mishap are being seen where people are failing in job interviews due to the use of what is deemed as casual language. Those who encounter such scenarios learn the negative impact of the use of slang in the harshest of ways. They fail to adjust their language according to the situation at hand.

While many insist that slang has hurt the English language, some disagree. They argue that English; just like any other language is not static. They think that languages are dynamic and as such, the language is a collection of words from different languages, (Hogg 111)

For instance, English is a collection of words from Greek and Latin, which have been reinvented and assimilated over time. The invention of fast modes of transport has enhanced globalization where people travel far and wide thus further promoting cultural interaction. As people travel for business, education, or tourism purposes, they are bound to assimilate some words into their normal speech. It is crucial to appreciate the fact that it’s difficult for slang to disappear totally from the language. Even after a generation that uses slang words assumes adulthood and stops the use of the words, the words are passed on to the next one through media such as music and poetry. Linguists have found a trend in language development where one generation speaks slightly differently from another.

Students should however be encouraged to use proper English in their day-to-day communication to boost their writing skills. Constant use of shorthand in the writing of texts is being translated to poorer grades that are a worrying trend. More research should be conducted on the impact of slang on the English language and appropriate measures taken to ensure English is not fully eroded even as the use of slang gains popularity. Read More